Taking Aim at Gun Violence: Rebuilding Community Education and Employment Pathways

1. Taking Aim at Gun Violence:Rebuilding Community Education and Employment Pathways Presented by Rhonda Bryant Senior Policy Analyst, CLASP June 25, 2013

2. Snapshot 2000-2010 • 53,850 black males died by firearms. That’s an average of 4,900 per year. • 48% of nation’s homicide victims were black males. • 85% of black male homicide victims were under age 40. • In 2010, more than 50% of black male homicide victims were between ages of 13 and 29. • For every black male that dies from gun violence, there are 24 others who suffer non-fatal injuries. • At the current rates, another 68,600 black males will die from gun violence between now and 2025.

3. If we fail to act, in a single generation we will lose over 132,000 black males to gun violence.

4. 846 black men in Atlanta, GA • 2,002 black men in Baltimore, MD • 396 black men in Camden, NJ • 372 black men in Charlotte, NC • 3,670 black men in Chicago, IL • 532 black men in Cincinnati, OH • 646 black men in Columbus, OH • 744 black men in Indianapolis, IN • 458 black men in Jackson, MS • 809 black men in Kansas City, MO • 1,083 black men in Los Angeles, CA • 844 black men in Memphis, TN • 2,294 black men in New Orleans, LA • 836 black men in Newark, NJ • 966 black men in Oakland, CA • 3,229 black men in Philadelphia, PA • 1,143 black men in Washington, DC • 215 black men in Wilmington, DE •

5. Homicide Projection - Methodology • most recent nationally available homicide rates in each community (Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation, “Crime in the United States 2011”) • percent of homicide victims in each community that are black males (Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation, “2011 Supplemental Homicide Report Master Files”) • national and state 10-year trends in number of black male deaths caused by a firearm as the weapon (Source: Wall Street Journal, “Murders in America Database”) • projected growth nationally and in each of the respective cities based on historical data (Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, “2012 National Population Projections,” and U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2005-2011)

6. Poverty, Place, and Gun Violence • People who live in communities of concentrated poverty are more likely to experience violence or be victims of violence. • Black children are 9 times more likely to live in concentrated poverty than white children. • 45 percent of economically poor black children live in concentrated poverty. • Most of the difference in rates of violence and health between racial groups can be accounted for by differences in the communities in which people live. • While homicide rates nationally are decreasing, homicide rates in communities of concentrated poverty are not. Source: The Annie E. Casey Foundation, Children Living in America’s High Poverty Communities: A KIDS COUNT Data Snapshot (2012)

7. Poverty, Place, and Gun Violence • Homicides in America are concentrated in the South, Midwest, East Coast and CA. In these states, homicide rates are driven by the cities with concentrated poverty. • These cities with concentrated poverty have homicide rates ranging from 2 times to 19 times the national average. • Large communities like Chicago, LA, NYC have lower homicide rates due to variation in socio-economic status across neighborhoods. • In the South, there are many very small, often isolated communities with high homicide rates. • There is a clear relationship between rising poverty and rising homicide rates.

8. Poverty, Place, and Gun Violence • Communities of concentrated poverty lack the infrastructure and resources to make them viable places to live, work, or raise a family. • Researchers and economists predicted failure to invest in education and employment training in urban areas would lead to increased unemployment and crime. • 32% of youth disconnected from education and work in the US are black. • Only 12% of black male teens are employed. • High school graduation rates for black males in these communities are extremely low.

9. What is the Solution? The best solution is to transform communities of concentrated poverty into places that support the healthy development of young black males. • Cognitive development – strong schools, out-of-school activities, community resources, and informal learning • Physical development – safe recreational facilities, parks, streets, and physically safe schools • Social/emotional development – safe environments for socializing, positive peer relationships, and caring adults • Cultural development – cultural institutions, opportunities to learn and appreciate cultures represented in community • Vocational development – exposure to work, careers, college, and ability to earn money

10. What is the Solution? • Target federal and state investments to communities of concentrated poverty. • Build community capacity to create comprehensive delivery systems. • Provide opportunities for healing from trauma and adversity. • Strengthen the entire educational pipeline. • Re-engage and support black males who have dropped out of high school. • Expand opportunities for work.

11. Rhonda Bryant Senior Policy Analyst, CLASP www.clasp.org/youthofcolor rbryant@clasp.org (email) @RTsoiBryant (Twitter) (202) 906-8014 (phone)